By David Poole
©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
09/26/19

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

09/26/19

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

Release Date: Thursday, September 26, 2019

ACROSS
1 Indian food 
option
5 “4x2=8” rapper 
from Korea
8 Blood 
component
14 Et __: and others
15 Troy, N.Y., 
school
16 Trojan War hero
17 Delivery method
19 Duke’s Mike 
Krzyzewski, 
familiarly
20 Fall
21 Boats and gravy 
boats
22 Stockpiled
24 Tigers, on 
scoreboards
25 “Miracle on Ice” 
winners: Abbr.
28 Pours carelessly
29 Start of el año
31 Quick bite
33 Chef’s collection
35 Siri device
37 Pointed facial 
features
41 Morris 
Buttermaker’s 
“bad news” team
43 Big name in 
smooth jazz
44 Spray can output
46 Like some U.S. 
mail
47 African antelope
50 Binge
52 Montgomery of 
jazz
53 Part of UCLA
54 Due
56 Easy marks
59 __ del Fuego
62 Angular abode
63 Complex 
containing 
thiamine and 
niacin
65 Close tightly
66 Half of eleven?
67 Spots at the 
prom?
68 Discount phrase
69 Farm sci.
70 Mower holder

DOWN
1 Brit’s raincoat
2 Rick’s love in 
“Casablanca”
3 In __ of
4 Decrees

5 1996 Richard 
Gere/Edward 
Norton thriller
6 Spot buyer
7 Half a cosmic 
whole
8 Walked 
nervously
9 Some summer 
babies
10 Santa __: dry 
winds
11 Withdraw 
formally
12 “Resurrection 
Symphony” 
composer
13 Invites for
18 Antacid brand
21 Italian scooter
23 Long-running 
Mad feature 
suggested by this 
puzzle’s circled 
letters
25 Yard, say
26 Junior-to-be
27 Tennis immortal
29 “The 
Neverending 
Story” author
30 Acronymically 
named boy band
32 White House 
architect James

34 Rug rat
36 More than want
38 Had down cold
39 Thornfield Hall 
governess
40 Capt.’s 
subordinates
42 Bouquet for a 
señorita
45 On the soapbox
47 West Texas city
48 Preppy shoe
49 Celestial
51 Zeno’s home

54 Coterie members, 
in slang
55 “Aunt __ Cope 
Book”
57 Black Friday event
58 Controversial 
radio host
60 Like chocolate 
cheesecake
61 Actress 
Hathaway
63 Intl. news 
broadcaster
64 Rest area?

Whether we welcome it with open arms 
or try our hardest to shun it, celebrity 
culture pervades everyday life. Through 
the rise of platforms like Twitter and 
Instagram, the gap between celebrities 
and 
average 
folks 
has 
narrowed, 
strengthening the illusion that these 
millionaire stars are just like us. Perhaps 
it is this very superficial connection that 
allows “Between Two Ferns,” which is 
essentially an hour-long roast of A-list 
stars hosted by Zach Galifianakis, to 
find its audience. Though Galifianakis’s 
niche humor is a bizarre mix of silly and 
abrasive and the film’s plot is painfully 
elementary, if we fully embrace the 
absurdity we may laugh more than we 
expect to. 
It seems pointless to even provide 
a synopsis for this movie because the 
relevance of the “story” is minimal. Zach 
Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) plays a 
wacky, corporate-controlled talking head 
who dreams of hosting his own show one 
day. When business tycoon Will Ferrell 
(“Blades of Glory”) offers Galifianakis a 
chance to turn his dream into a reality, 
he and his equally peculiar crew drive 
across the country to complete a series of 
celebrity interviews under a time crunch. 
If this sounds nonsensical, that’s because 
it is. Filled with foolishness and lacking 
pacing, “Between Two Ferns” watches as 
more of a “Saturday Night Live” skit or 
a Netflix comedy special than an actual 
film.

It 
is 
questionable 
whether 
this 
spectacle can even be deemed a “movie” 
because it is so unconventional in its 
strong emphasis on comedy and disregard 
for plotline. The film targets a distinct it’s 
unlikely that Galifianakis’s goofiness will 
peak your interest. 
In terms of quality, “Between Two 
Ferns” is missing a variety of important 
elements like engaging cinematography, 
a memorable score and genuine character 
development. 
Though 
director 
Scott 
Aukerman makes it quite clear from the 
start that “Between Two Ferns” is not 
meant to follow any sort of conventional 
structure, the lack of traditional movie 
features is frustrating for any audience 
member wanting more than just snippets 
of celebrities being insulted in interviews. 

Despite its narrow intended audience, 
“Between Two Ferns” is not the worst 
option if you’re looking for an addition 
to a late-night Netflix binge. The sheer 
ridiculousness of the plotline and level 
of overall awkwardness throughout are 
enough to make anyone crack a few smiles. 
However, if you are looking to watch 
something substantial, you are definitely 
better off scrolling past Aukerman’s latest 
flick.

‘Two Ferns’ is too silly for a story

SAMANTHA NELSON
Daily Arts Writer

FILM REVIEW

Between Two Ferns

Netflix

Alright. So maybe the Homer Simpson animation that 
opened the show was a miss, but you know what was a 
bigger miss? “Green Book” winning Best Picture. We hope 
you enjoyed the big wins, the bits that actually landed and 
the sheen on Tony Shalhoub’s mustache. But, most of all, 
we hope you remember the times that we picked correctly, 
and that we told you so. 

Forever yours, 
The TV Beat 

Lead Actor in a Drama
The Winner: Billy Porter (“POSE”) 

Since TIME Magazine obviously isn’t going to do it, it’s 
about time we label 2019 “The Year of Billy Porter.” After 
serving a look as instantly iconic as the tuxedo gown at 
this year’s Academy Awards, most celebrities would have 
stopped. After being carried into the Met Gala by a troupe 
of beefcakes — in all gold might I add — most celebrities 
would have lost their momentum. But Billy Porter is 
not most celebrities and, if this year is any indication, he 
will not be removing his foot from the collective neck of 
America anytime soon. No, I will not take up precious time 
gloating about how I told you so, and how I just might be 
the voice of high-brow taste. But I will take up your time 
to spearhead the campaign to get Billy Porter on Disney’s 
forthcoming “The Little Mermaid” album. Not only will 
this earn him the final “G” in his quest to the elusive 
E.G.O.T (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), but it also will 
preemptively make “The Little Mermaid,” starring Halle 
Bailey, the Blackest film of 2020. 

Lead Actress in a Limited Series 
The Winner: Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”)
The (Honorary) Most Improved: Joey King (“The Act”) 

OK. So maybe I’m not the pinnacle of high brow taste. 
I’m allowed to make mistakes! If it means anything, I am 
very satisfied that, if anyone, it was Michelle Williams that 
took home the prize for her performance as Gwen Verdon 
— even if my pick, Joey King, decisively proved herself 
to be “Most Improved.” The range, the career savvy to 
make the leap from “The Kissing Booth” to “The Act” in 
under a year should not go unnoticed. Her ability to not 

only keep up with, but to even steal scenes from living 
legend, Patricia Arquette should not go unnoticed. To 
contextualize my claim, imagine Noah Centineo holding 
his own alongside Bob Odenkirk. Now laugh because that 
would never happen. There’s always next year, Jo-Jo! 

— Ally Owens, TV Beat Editor 

Lead Actress in a Comedy
The Winner: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”)
The Nine-Time Emmy Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus 
(“Veep”)

Before this category was announced I declared that if 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus did win, I would cry. And if she didn’t 
win, I would also cry. So spoiler alert: I cried. Watching 
JLD lose in her final season as Selina Meyer, failing to 
break the record of straight wins in this category, was like 
a punch to the gut. I know this millionaire comedian has 
no idea who I am, and she sure doesn’t care who I am. 
But I really thought she had this one. That being said, if 
the winner couldn’t be JLD, I am thrilled it was another 
woman of three names, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. In fact, 
it was a huge night for PWB, taking home Lead Actress, 
Outstanding Comedy Writing and Outstanding Comedy 
Series (more on that later). Waller-Bridge crafted a 
character most women could connect to — sarcastic, sexy 
and deeply damaged. Not even Selina Meyer could rig that 
vote. 

Outstanding Comedy Series
The Winner: “Fleabag” 

May I just take this moment to say: I told you so. They 
all doubted me, they said it couldn’t happen. Yet here we 
are, the week after the Emmy’s, and “Fleabag,” a beauty 
of a show birthed from the magnificent brain of Phoebe 

Waller-Bridge, has an Emmy perched on its mantel. My 
reaction to this win? Shock, at first. As much faith as I 
had in “Fleabag,” I thought it was pretty certain the final 
season of “Veep” had this category in the bag. I would’ve 
been happy of course — “Veep” is the holy grail of which all 
comedy writing should be compared to. Yet my inevitable 
re-watch of “Fleabag” following its win has proven that 
this was not an upset nor an underdog story. There never 
has and never will be another show with the emotional 
depth yet comedic wit of “Fleabag,” and that deserves to 
be rewarded. 

— Samantha Della Fera, Senior Arts Editor 

Limited Series
The Winner: “Chernobyl” 

As I said, this category was Craig Mazin’s “Chernobyl”’s 
to lose. While I still think “Fosse/Verdon” has the better 
performances and “When They See Us” packs the most 
emotional punch, “Chernobyl” excels in all of these 
categories, from the supposedly uncannily accurate 
recreations of the Soviet era to the pilot which has a valid 
argument for being the single best episode of TV in the 
entire year. The scenes including the firefighters are as 
pathos-inducing as others are thrilling, and “Chernobyl” 
is a worthy winner even among its stiff competition. 

Lead Actor in a Comedy
The Winner: Bill Hader (“Barry”) 

That’s two years in a row now for Bill Hader’s tour 
de force performance as the titular character in HBO’s 
“Barry.” And like I said in my prediction, this probably 
wasn’t even a close vote. What impresses me the most is just 
how convincing the fundamental changes are portrayed 
in the hitman-turned-actor and how Hader sells his 
endearing awkwardness. He is supported by other skillful 
performances by Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrrigan and 
Henry Winkler, but as much as he has the ability to play off 
their work, the fact that Barry is still repressed internally 
and carries the darkest of secrets forces him to ultimately 
take the lead and stand above the rest.

— Sayan Ghosh, Daily New Media Editor 

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series 
The Winner: Luke Kirby (“The Marvelous Mrs. 
Maisel”) 
The Robbed: John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”) 

 How could this happen? Was our favorite lanky 
comedian really robbed of an Emmy even after “Bodega 
Bathroom”? Even after two successful runs on SNL? 
Sure, everyone that’s been nominated for an Emmy has 
a “winner” edge to their work, but John Mulaney should 
have been the winner. His comedy is anecdotal, but always 
has a relatable quality to it, and he’s a model for what the 
future of comedy better look like. I’m sure Luke Kirby 
did a great job, but the disappointment that comes with 
Mulaney’s loss is one that is comparable to seeing your 
favorite teacher lose the “Teacher of the Year” award. You 
really loved that teacher, but you understand that maybe 
the winner was a little more popular. With consistency, 

your favorite teacher has a real chance in the running to 
win next year.

Variety Talk Show
The Winner: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” 
The Robbed (But Still Sexy): “The Daily Show with 
Trevor Noah” 

Let’s be honest here. Pretty much all variety talk shows 
today consist of similar material and jokes, because 99 
percent of them draw from politics. After all, the Trump 
administration gives them plenty of comedic material to 
work with, and it’s nearly impossible to avert your eyes 
from the trainwreck that is American politics. So while all 
these hosts have their own spin on the happenings of the 
day, any one of them could have won and nobody would 
have been that surprised. Since “Last Week Tonight With 
John Oliver” is on HBO, Oliver and his team can definitely 
push more boundaries in the comedy realm than the other 
networks can. So I get it. Everyone loves Trevor Noah and 
Stephen Colbert, but there wasn’t much potential for this 
category to have a huge upset anyway. They could have 
drawn the winner from a hat. 

— Sophia Yoon, Daily Arts Writer

Here’s what you missed at the Emmys. You’re welcome.

DAILY TV BEAT
Daily Arts Writers

TV NOTEBOOK

FX

NETFLIX

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

HBO

6 —Thursday, September 26, 2019
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

